comment

RYE, N.Y. -- Yonkers resident Felix Kusi-Gyabaah was pleasantly surprised when he paid the $5 spectator admission to Playland and received a $5 credit to use in the park for rides, concessions or games."It was nice to get a little break," said Kusi-Gyabaah, who came to the park Friday with his wife and three children.

Since Thursday, Playland has been issuing $5 credits on "fun cards" to county residents who pay the spectator fee, which allows entrance into the park but does not include access to any of the rides.

The measure has been instituted after the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted July 6 to override County Executive Robert Astorino's veto of a bill that would eliminate spectator fees for county residents.Valhalla resident Lenore Carpinelli brought her two daughters to Playland Friday. She had heard that admission would be free for spectators, but was not disappointed at receiving a $5 credit instead. She used it ride the merry-go-round with her daughters.Carpinelli said she would have been happy to just pay the $5 admission fee without the fun card credit."I think it's a fair price," she said. "The park has to make money somehow."